August 09, 2026 08:22 pm (IST)
Follow us:
Syria: UN urges complete removal of chemical weapons
New York, May 9 (IBNS): The head of the Joint Mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations (OPCW-UN) on Thursday called for safe and unfettered access to the remaining eight per cent of Syria's chemical weapons material that needs to be removed and destroyed.
Speaking to reporters after a closed-door briefing to the UN Security Council, Special Coordinator Sigrid Kaag recalled that 92 per cent of Syria’s chemical weapons have been removed or destroyed in country so far.
The remaining eight per cent is currently inaccessible due to the security conditions, Kaag said, stressing that unfettered access is critical to ensure that the operation can be concluded quickly and on time.
“Significant milestones have been met but we do need that final push to achieve 100 per cent and to complete the work as foreseen in the entire chemical weapons elimination programme.”
The removal of the most critical material for destruction began in early January, in line with an agreement brokered by Russia and the United States, by which Syria renounced its chemical weapons material and joined 1992 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons.
As per the decisions taken by the Security Council and the OPCW Executive Council, the full arsenal of Syria’s chemical weapons should be destroyed by 30 June 2014.
Kaag noted that all that remains is the removal of 16 containers. “Then the operation can be concluded very quickly. It’s a matter of less than a working week in its totality and that allows the authorities to stay as close to the 30 June deadline as possible.”
[Sigrid Kaag (top right), Special Coordinator of the Joint Mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the UN to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons programme, speaks to journalists following a closed-door meeting of the Security Council on Syria. Photo: UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras]
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Iran releases new video of Mojtaba Khamenei amid health speculation
Sun, Aug 09 2026
Kyiv hit again: Child among three killed in Russian drone strikes, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says
Sat, Aug 08 2026
Thailand school bloodbath: Suspect killed grandparents before attack that left six dead
Fri, Aug 07 2026
Horror in Thailand: Teacher among 2 killed in deadly school shooting
Fri, Aug 07 2026
Iran's President meets Mojtaba Khamenei in 'darkened' car, later asks: 'Was it really him?'
Thu, Aug 06 2026
Princess Isabella makes history as first Danish royal woman to begin full military service
Wed, Aug 05 2026
Zelenskyy shares chilling video of Russian drone 'hunting' civilian in human safari attack
Wed, Aug 05 2026
Why is Nauru now called Naoero? All you need to know
Tue, Aug 04 2026